The document discusses the tidal zone and the adaptations required for organisms living in each tidal zone. It describes four tidal zones from highest to lowest: the splash zone, high tide zone, middle tide zone, and low tide zone. Each zone requires unique adaptations depending on the amount of time organisms are exposed to air or submerged in water, such as adaptations to prevent drying out or withstand wave action in higher zones and adaptations to withstand full submersion in lower zones.

1. Life in the Tidal Zone
Survival!

2. 2 Major ecological concepts
are in effect:
 Competition
 For Space
 For Resources (food, water, space…)
 Adaptations
 To prevent desiccation (drying out)
 To anchor themselves
 To protect themselves

3. Tidal Zone Adaptation
Tidal habitats change daily with the tides,
so organisms adapt, or adjust to changing
environmental conditions with special features to:
Avoid drying out
Protect themselves from predators
Anchor themselves to resist waves
Limpets shape their shells
to fit a specific rock:
effective seal against
water loss
Tube feet of sea
star used for
locomotion and
suction/anchorage
Hermit crab
hiding in it’s
scavenged shell
Pipefish well
camouflaged in
eelgrass bed

4. Types of Tidal Habitats
Sandy Beaches and Mud Flats Rocky Shores
Different tidal habitats require different adaptations
• Substrate offers lots of nutrients,
but little structure for attachment
• Animals bury themselves in mud
• Can also attach to plants
• Little protection from strong waves:
animals must anchor
• Complex tide pools possible
• Seaweeds offer protection from
drying

5. Tidal Zones
Splash Zone
High Tide Zone
Middle Tide Zone
Low Tide Zone
Zones
affected daily
by changing
tides
Adaptations
are required
to avoid
drying out,
wave action
and predators
Intertidal Zone
High, Mid and Low
Tidal habitats are divided into zones based on relative
beach location and how often they are covered by water
Tides are controlled by moon’s
gravity pulling on the ocean.

6.  High on beach
 Out of water most of the time
 Species must tolerate salt, heat,
cold, and extended dry periods
 Adaptation example: Barnacles
and algae are most tolerant to
desiccation (drying out)
Splash Zone

7. Splash Zone LifeSplash Zone Life
Amphipods
Periwinkles
Isopods
Blue-Green
Algae
Lichen

8.  Increased wave action
 Tide pools provide some protection
 Adaptations include ability to survive
exposure to air without drying out and
to survive wave action.
Adaptation example: Anemones
survive wave action by attaching
themselves to the sheltered side of
large rocks
High Tide Zone

9. High Tide Zone LifeHigh Tide Zone Life
Acorn BarnaclesLimpets
Shore Crab
Rockweed
Anemones
Hermit Crabs
Black
Turban
Snails

10.  Most active region
 Covered and uncovered twice a day
 Life must tolerate BOTH submersion
in water and exposure to air
 Animals move in and out of adjacent
zones to feed
 Adaptation example: The tube feet of
an ochre sea star allow it to suction
on to surfaces
Middle Tide Zone

11. Middle Tide Zone LifeMiddle Tide Zone Life
Gooseneck
barnacles
Ochre sea star
Sea palmsAnemones
California mussels Black leather
chitons
Click here for a quick video!

12.  Most food and shelter
 Most diversity of organisms compared to other
zones
 Less exposure to air and heat – under water for a
lot of the time
 Animals unable to exist in other zones because
they will dry out
 Adaptation example: Anemones have tentacles that inject
a paralyzing neurotoxin when touched
Low Tide Zone
(Subtidal zone)

13. Low Tide Zone LifeLow Tide Zone Life
Nudibranch
(sea slug)
Kelp crabs
Gumboot Chiton
Purple sea
urchin Giant Green Sea
Anemone
Coralline algae
Bull kelp

14. Summary
Exposure to Water
Most time
Each zone requires unique
adaptations for survival
Splash Zone
High Tide Zone
Middle Tide Zone
Low Tide Zone

15. Intertidal Zone Organisms

16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGMCaTwkKrc

17. What is an Estuary?
An estuary is a
semi-enclosed body
of water where
freshwater meeting
and mixes with
saltwater.